Corporate Culture

Whether written as a mission statement, spoken or merelyunderstood, corporate culture describes and governs the ways acompany’s owners and employees think, feel and act. Your ownbusiness’s culture may be based on beliefs spelled out in yourmission statement. It could consist in part of a corporate symbol,like the rainbow-colored apple that symbolizes Apple Computer.Whatever shape it takes, your corporate culture plays a big role indetermining how well your business will do.

If you’re not happy with your current culture, there are thingsyou can do to start changing it now. Look for a symbol, story,ritual or other tool you could use to bring out the values andpractices you want for your company. Your cultural tool might be anew corporate logo symbolizing your company’s personality. Or youcould choose a story to embody your approach and make it part ofyour culture. If you can’t find a tool, make one. For example, youcan turn an admired former employee into a symbol by giving anaward named after that individual, complete with ritualceremony.